Accumulating stuff in gtd categories - someday maybe list is where things die?

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wishgtd

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My someday maybe list is where things are going to die

I have more folders and more possible projects in those folders than may be humanely possible in a lifetime.

I get and download free kindle ebooks that get available daily that I have not read but I plan to "someday" read - one example of items that creep in there.

The other issue is I have a list for reading breaks for when I am on the computer and I want to take a break - well lately my last 2 weeks have not been like that, and my future 2 weeks and further until the end of summer are going to take priority in another direction and meanwhile I just see myself adding to that list without things ever getting ticked off (even though it is for breaks)

When do I decide just because I have access to information I do not need to accumulate it? Or is this accumulation of links a good implementation because it does take a possible future commitment and is in a trusted system?
 
wishgtd;87060 said:
My someday maybe list is where things are going to die

I have more folders and more possible projects in those folders than may be humanely possible in a lifetime.
Click to expand...

First off, I think everyone has more ideas than they can ever implement. That's actually good, it means you are a thinking feeling human being.

The trick to a huge Someday Maybe list is to break it into chunks so you can get some of them done and at weekly review prioritize what you need or want to get done this lifetime and what, if anything, you need to document now to leave for the next person to pick up those projects.

I currently have over 500 individual projects in my Someday/Maybe list. I also have several lists of things like books to read, over 350 books, places to go, over 50 places, music to buy, and so on. I have active projects in these areas that have concrete next actions so even though the aggregate is large I am making progress.

On some of my projects I have decided that it is either unlikely or impossible that I will ever get them done, but I can and do want to do something towards that end. The long term 100 and 500 year visions for the farm are in that category. I won't be here to see whether it worked but by writing down such a long term vision I found that I start to evaluate what I do get done each year in terms of whether it moves the farm closer to the 100 year goal.

And for some things the answer may be to just stop getting the inputs. I was downloading a lot of kindle free books too. But then I decided to only download them if I really did want to read them or thought I did and I also gave myself permission to delete a bunch, unread, if I decided I didn't like them after starting.
 
A few general categories of Someday/Maybe items can be stored in reference lists. For example, I have a "Might Buy", "Might Read", and "Might Learn" list that I keep in my Reference Lists. In MS Outlook these are implemented using the Notes component. I also have "Vacation Ideas", "Next Time In...", etc.

There's no rule about what should go in a reference list or on Someday/Maybe. They both work as long as you review them regularly. I review these reference lists during my weekly review and capture actions triggered. I also update and prune the lists to keep them from becoming stale and meaningless.

Think of these lists as you would your refrigerator. Some items can stay in the refrigerator indefinitely but lose their appeal after a while. Those things still take up space that could be occupied by other, better, more appetizing things.

Good luck.
 
Thanks guys! I need to make a someday maybe list to prune that list now with your suggestions. Seems like I am getting stale and need to reread the book.
 
Just to echo it; it is not bad to have a long list of someday/maybe. Just make sure you review it every now and then so it's just not a dump pile.

I review mine usually every 2 weeks.
 
AE Thanh;87297 said:
Just to echo it; it is not bad to have a long list of someday/maybe. Just make sure you review it every now and then so it's just not a dump pile.

I review mine usually every 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning "dump pile" - apropos term currently.
 
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